As the days go on there's something I realize more and more — I'm not meant to be in this story anymore.
I once imagined starting a life and living in the only place I knew for the rest of my life, but that is now just a distant thought. Although I knew, or thought I knew, I wanted this, I had no true direction of where I wanted to end up.
And that's when it hit me. I wasn't sure how I was going to live the rest of my life wondering what to do. How could you be apart of a story you're not passionate about?
I went off to begin a new journey down in the sunshine state for an internship with Walt Disney World, and the world I was in felt like one bigger than I had ever known. And it was. But that was when my dreams became even bigger — too big for the only place I knew before this one.
I finally found the passion I always hoped to find and that's when my life did a complete 360. I found my purpose. I figured out what I wanted to do and what it did for my soul. But there was only one issue — the hardest part about that was finding people to accept my decision.
With the increasing amount of days passing since I left the program, and the ones that bring me closer to going back, I've realized it's not about what other people approve of. Opinions are just opinions. Somebody will always have something to say, but you can never let that hold you back or you'll never do the one thing you've always wanted. You'll be stuck in the same spot for the rest of your life.
Nobody will understand what that place did for me. And I don't expect them to. I could never describe the feeling that I felt enough for someone who didn't live it to understand. I didn't have to accept half-assed relationships or friendships, invitations that I didn't want to be apart of, or memories that I didn't want to make. There was nothing happening out of convenience.
Nothing ever felt so right.
But how could the outlook on my future change so quickly? I discovered a place that gave me more potential than I could've ever imagined. I found doors that were meant for me to open. I came across people who wanted to live their life like it was their last day on earth. No matter where I went or what I did, I always felt like I was meant to be apart of that story. It set my soul on fire.
I love this state and this town, and it'll always get credited to making me who I am. But I'm meant to be bigger. Dream bigger. Go somewhere bigger than this.
There's days where I'm happy to be here, and there's other days where it feels as if I'm hanging by a thread, but aside from all of this I realized one thing — the world works in mysterious ways. Things happen when they're supposed to happen, and what's meant to be will be.
I was on top of the world. I reminisce about the the days there when I wanted to live eternally, and if doing that has taught me anything it was that you can't rush something that you want to last forever. And although this story may be coming to an end, the next chapter in this book is waiting to be written.
And it's going to be a wild adventure.
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Librarian Lavender
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!
1. BAKE ALL OF THE COOKIES
Every year since I was a little girl, my mom and I would bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Here's a link to some awesome cookie recipes!
2. Make Gingerbread houses
This is a personal favorite of mine. My grandmother used to buy the standard Gingerbread kits but we would make our own icing and use our favorite candy as decoration. Of course, I would always end up eating a window or part of the roof off later when she wasn't looking (hehe).
3. Hallmark Ornaments
Okay, so I have to explain this one a little bit. There's a Christmas tree in my house dedicated specifically towards me. The ornaments are from my parents childhood, as well as mine. Every year my mom has bought 3-4 Hallmark Christmas ornaments of my choosing to add to the tree. It's really funny, because you can tell how old I was each year from the type of ornaments I would pick out (let's just say Barbie Princess was a big hit from 2000-2005ish).
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
4. Watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
It's my dad's favorite Christmas movie! This 1964 classic has been a hit in the James family for literally over 50 years. Honestly if you haven't seen this movie, I don't know how you could possibly have Christmas.
5. Christmas Eve Family Dinner
After the Christmas service at church, my family always comes over to my house to have a Christmas Eve dinner. We spend this time just enjoying each other, opening one present before Santa comes, and enjoying the true meaning of Christmas.
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash
Although these traditions may not seem the most original, they mean a lot to me and Christmas wouldn't be the same to me without them. After all, Christmas isn't about how many presents you get or the long break you get from school. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and giving back to others. Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year.!
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Gurl.com
It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.
Phase One: The “I got this” phase
It’s a few weeks before finals, and you’re the good living life. You say to yourself: “Hey dude, let’s starting studying early and kill finals this semester.” For a few days you think it’s all good, and study a little here and there and are proud of yourself for starting early. Starting early is a great idea, but let’s be real; this stage is short lived.
Phase Two: The “I have time” phase
It’s maybe two weeks before finals and you think to yourself: “Hey dude, it’s two weeks before finals! We have time. Don’t panic. Relax. There’s so much time left!” All of the studying you started before stops, and late night Netflix binges have resumed. Why stress yourself out more than you have to now? Let’s just wait a little longer. It will so be okay.
Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase
It’s now the last week of classes and it’s hitting you hard. Your professor starts prepping you for the final and it’s like time stops: “What do you mean I have a week before class? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” The anxiety starts to set in and life gets real, real fast. All those late nights watching Netflix are now catching up with you and while finishing the entire series of "House" in record time is impressive, it won’t get you a 4.0.
Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase
IT’S HERE. THEY’RE HERE. Late nights in the library become early mornings, and eventually the librarians know your entire life because you never leave that one table in the back and you’ve claimed it as your land. The copious amounts of study guides overwhelm your life, and at one point you start to question of your education is really worth this. But alas, you push through because...
Phase Five: The rejoicing phase
As you sit down to take your last final, you are praying that your brain does not turn to mush halfway through the exam. You scribble your last answer in the blue book and try not to run to the professor’s desk. You almost trip over countless backpacks and the nasty looks being shot at you from the poor souls who are struggling are burning a hole through the back of your head. This is it: the last exam of the year is in your hand, and you drop it on the professor’s desk and mutter “thanks, Satan” and practically skip out of the room. REJOICE! IT’S OVER. Congratulations, you’ve officially made it through finals. Until next year…
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Student Life
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.
15 December
2944
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.
1. Get to the library early. Everyone knows that if you roll up to the library in the late afternoon, there will be no tables available. Wake up early and get there before 10 a.m. This ensures you have all day to study and if you're lucky, you might be able to leave before midnight.
2. Don’t forget your books. Double check to make sure that you aren’t forgetting the books you need to study for your tests. Having to get up and go the library is tough enough, but realizing that you forgot your Biology book at home makes it even worse. Hopefully you either live close or have nice roommates that might bring it to you.
3. Snacks snacks snacks. The best part about finals week is being able to eat any food as a reward for going to the library. Pack snacks that won’t cause everyone to glare at you for the loud crunching noise that you’re making.
Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash
4. Bring extra note cards. Don’t underestimate the number of notecards you will need because chances are you will use twice the amount of what you expected. Also, if you leave the library to get more, you probably won’t come back.
5. Make sure you have both your laptop charger and phone charger. Considering that you will most likely be there all day, you wouldn’t want to run out of power on any of your electronic devices.
person holding black smartphone on white textile Photo by I'M ZION on Unsplash
6. Go with friends. Make it a roommate outing but make sure they won’t be too distracting.
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7. Make a schedule. Plan on studying for each subject for a certain amount of time. Switching subjects every so often keeps your brain interested and prevents you from dozing off.
8. Have some kind of motivation. Whether it is a lunch break or thinking about something fun that you are doing over break, keep that motivation in mind to get you through the rough patches of studying.
Photo by Danielle Bailey on Unsplash
9. Coffee. Caffeine will give you the energy you need to get through the next couple of days but be careful with this one—too much coffee may result in you bouncing off the walls and messing around.
Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash
10. Make a playlist. Everyone listens to music while they study. Make a custom "Finals" playlist that will keep you focused and eager to hear the next song.
These 10 tips will help get you through the week while ensuring some sort of motivation. Good luck and keep your head up.
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Student Life
26 Things to Thank Our Roommates For
Who knows where we would be without them.
15 December
2030
StableDiffusion
Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.
1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.
2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.
3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.
roommate as a therapist StableDiffusion
4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.
woman in white shirt eating pizza Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash
5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.
person holding remote pointing at TV Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.
7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.
person holding assorted clothes in wooden hanger Photo by Becca McHaffie on Unsplash
8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.
a couple of dogs laying on top of a couch Photo by Judy Beth Morris on Unsplash
9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.
friends cleaning apartment StableDiffusion
10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.
man driving car during golden hour Photo by Darwin Vegher on Unsplash
11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.
12. Thank you for making dinner with me.
bacon strips and melted cheese topped fries on oval white and blue platter with gray stainless steel forks Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.
selective focus photography of eyeshadow palette Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.
15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.
16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.
brown wooden framed white padded chair in between green indoor leaf plants inside bedroom Photo by Timothy Buck on Unsplash
17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.
18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.
19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.
20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.
women forming heart gestures during daytime Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash
21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.
taking care of a sick friend StableDiffusion
22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.
23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.
24. Thank you for being super weird with me.
25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.
man in red polo shirt pouring wine on clear wine glass Photo by Jonah Brown on Unsplash
26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.
woman in black jacket standing on road during daytime Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash
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Student Life
20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals
I may or may not be stressing right now.
14 December
2998
StableDiffusion
That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.
1. "What do I have to study for?"
2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"
3. "I’m going to ace this."
4. "Focus!"
StableDiffusion
5."I have no idea what I'm reading."
6. "I should call my smart friend about this."
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7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."
8. "I’m dropping out of school."
9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"
10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."
11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."
student thinking i shouldnt have procrastinated all semester StableDiffusion
12. "I wanna go to bed."
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash
13. "We did not learn this!"
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
14. "I should go get food."
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
15. "Why do we even have finals?"
16. "I don’t want to be at the library."
StableDiffusion
17. "Get off your phone."
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18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."
Photo by Thibault Penin on Unsplash
19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."
20. "You have to study now!"
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
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